Field of Invention
[0001] This invention relates to coin mechanisms. In particular, this invention relates
to an electrical generator for a coin mechanism, for operating an electrical or electronic
device, and a coin mechanism having an electrical generator.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Coin mechanisms are used to operate many different types of devices and machines,
including vending machines, laundry machines, washroom stalls and so on. In such a
coin mechanism, depositing one or more coins or tokens of the required denomination
or type allows the user to actuate the coin mechanism, which in turn activates the
device or machine.
[0003] Certain types of machines, for example so-called "bulk venders" (also colloquially
known as "gumball machines") in which merchandise is dispensed from a bulk merchandise
compartment by rotating a coin mechanism, it is desirable to be able to locate the
machine in any high traffic locale. Operators of bulk venders need to have the flexibility
to place the bulk vender in both supervised and unsupervised areas, regardless of
the surrounding conditions. One of the ramifications of this is that bulk venders
must be extremely theft- and vandal-resistant.
[0004] Furthermore, in order to maximize the versatility in placement of a bulk vender,
it must not need electrical power to operate. This constitutes a significant limitation
on what functions a bulk vender is able to perform.
[0005] For example, to avoid theft or "skimming" by service personnel it would be advantageous
to provide an electronic counting device, which counts vends from the vender so that
the operator can determine how many coins or tokens should have been collected since
the previous service call. It can also be advantageous to track information regarding
vends and the purchasing habits of users, for example using an electronic "tag" or
another suitable device as described in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,372,995
to Schwarzli et al. filed February 25, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0006] In many cases it would be advantageous to be able to activate a solenoid, to either
release the coin mechanism or to activate a gate or door that releases the merchandise,
as this can render the coin mechanism more tamper-resistant and avoid the need for
complex mechanical mechanisms that unlatch gates or doors to allow merchandise to
be dispensed.
[0007] An electric current can also be used to help to distinguish coins having a metallic
component from non-metallic slugs, which may be composed for example of plastic or
cardboard. An example of a device for determining whether a coin is magnetic, and
releasing the coin mechanism only when the coin is magnetic, is described and illustrated
in U.S. Patent No. 5,954,181 issued September 21, 1999 to Schwarzli, which is incorporated
herein by reference. However, the magnetic locking mechanism so described only reacts
to a coin that has a magnetic component (iron or nickel). There are many denominations
of coin around the world that are metallic but do not have a magnetic component, and
there has heretofore been no reliable means available for discriminating between nonmagnetic
metallic coins and plastic or cardboard slugs in a bulk vender. If an electric current
were available, by interposing the deposited coin or token into an electrical circuit
which can be closed only if the coin is composed of metal, it could be determined
whether the coin is conductive (metallic) or non-conductive (non-metallic). This would
provide an additional security feature and reduce operator losses due to the use of
non-metallic slugs closely sized to the desired denomination of coin.
[0008] In all of these cases, however, the bulk vender would require electrical power in
order to operate the electrical or electronic device or test the coin for conductivity.
[0009] Conventionally there have been only two ways to supply power to a bulk vender: provide
a power cord and connect the machine to a mains power supply; or provide the vender
with a battery. Requiring connection to a mains power supply significantly limits
the variety of locations at which the bulk vender can be placed, as there must be
a power receptacle nearby.
[0010] Providing the bulk vender with a battery is usually impractical, because batteries
have a limited life. Although there are currently batteries available which are compact
enough to fit into a coin mechanism and can last for a significant period of time,
they deliver a very small current and are thus capable of operating a very limited
variety of devices which require very low power, such as silicon chips. Moreover,
when a battery runs out it does so suddenly and without warning, which can defeat
the purpose of any counting or tracking device provided in the vender, and frustrate
users who may be denied merchandise if the coin mechanism or merchandise release mechanism
has stopped operating because of a low or dead battery.
[0011] It would accordingly be advantageous to provide an electrical power source in a bulk
vender, and particularly in a coin mechanism, which does not require connection to
a mains power supply, supplies enough current to operate an electromagnetic device
such as a solenoid, and does not rely on a depleting energy source such as a battery.
Summary of the Invention
[0012] The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing an electrical generator
actuated by rotation of the coin mechanism. The electrical generator supplies enough
current to operate an electronic device or an electromagnetic device such as a solenoid,
and in the preferred embodiment to charge a battery at the same time which can be
used as a backup and/or auxiliary power source.
[0013] The invention accomplishes this by providing a stator mounted about a rotor and driven
by a spring-loaded drive wheel. The drive wheel rotates with the coin mechanism up
to a release position, loading the spring. At the release position the drive wheel
is released and snaps back to the rest position, driving the rotor and causing the
rotor to rotate rapidly within the stator, generating an electric pulse.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment the drive wheel engages the rotor at the release position,
and disengages from the rotor when the drive wheel has returned to the neutral position.
Thus, the rotor acts like a flywheel and continues to rotate under its own momentum
after the drive wheel has returned to the rest position, so the generator will continue
to generate electrical power even after the drive wheel has stopped at the rest position.
The generator is compact enough to fit within a conventional bulk vender coin mechanism,
yet it generates an electrical signal having sufficient current to activate a solenoid.
At the same time the electrical signal can be used to pulse a counter, electronic
tag or other tracking device, and to recharge a small battery which may be provided
as a backup or auxiliary power source.
[0015] The invention accordingly allows for the continuous use of an electronic counting
or tracking device, and an electromagnetic device such as a solenoid which may be
implemented to improve tamper-resistance or reduce the number and complexity of mechanical
components in the coin mechanism, vender or other machine, without sacrificing either
its reliability or flexibility in the use or placement of the machine. In one embodiment
the invention further provides a means for determining whether a deposited coin is
composed of metal or form a non-conductive material such as plastic or cardboard,
and to thus help discriminate between a coin of the intended denomination and a slug.
[0016] The present invention thus provides a generator for a coin mechanism, comprising
a stator, a rotor positioned to rotate within or about the stator, one of the rotor
and the stator comprising at least one magnetic element and the other of the rotor
and the stator comprising at least one coil, and a drive wheel being biased to a rest
position by a biasing element and rotatable to a release position, the drive wheel
being selectively rotationally coupled to the rotor such that when the drive wheel
is rotated to the release position and released, the drive wheel drives the rotor
as the drive wheel returns to the rest position, whereby as the rotor rotates the
generator generates an electric current.
[0017] In further aspects of the generator of the invention: the drive wheel releases from
the rotor as the drive wheel reaches the rest position; the drive wheel is rotationally
coupled to the rotor by at least one pawl engaging at least one tooth; the pawl is
biased to a position clear of the tooth and pivots to engage the tooth as the drive
wheel starts to rotate to the rest position; the drive wheel engages the rotor at
the release position; the wheel is biased to the rest position by at least one spring;
the wheel is biased to the rest position by a pair of tension springs anchored to
the wheel in substantially diametric relation; the tension springs wind into a groove
formed in the periphery of the wheel; the generator is disposed in a coin mechanism
and the wheel is rotated by a depressible member engaging a rotating portion of a
coin mechanism; the wheel is released by a stationary projecting member which depresses
the depressible member as the wheel reaches the release position, to disengage the
depressible member from the rotating portion of the coin mechanism; the coil is on
the stator; and/or the stator comprises a pair of coils.
[0018] The present invention further provides a coin mechanism, comprising a rotatable handle,
a coin carrier rotatable with the handle when a particular type of coin or token is
deposited into the coin carrier, coupled to a first driving member, and a generator
comprising a stator and a rotor positioned to rotate within or about the stator, one
of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one magnetic element and the other
of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one coil, and a drive wheel being
biased to a rest position by a biasing element and rotatable to a release position
by a second driving member cooperating with the first driving member, the drive wheel
being selectively rotationally coupled to the rotor such that when the drive wheel
is rotated to the release position and released, the drive wheel drives the rotor
as the drive wheel returns to the rest position, whereby as the rotor rotates the
generator generates an electric current.
[0019] In a further aspect of the coin mechanism, the coin mechanism further provides a
rotating member that rotates with the coin carrier, a rocker arm biased to a locking
position latched to the rotating member to prevent rotation of the coin carrier, one
of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet on the rocker arm, the other of the electromagnet
or a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the rocker arm in a position such that
when the electromagnet is activated the rocker arm can be attracted to the permanent
magnet, and a contact adjacent to the coin carrier, whereby when a metal coin or token
is deposited into the coin carrier the contact touches the coin and closes a circuit
which activates the electromagnet to attract the rocker arm to the permanent magnet
and draw the rocker arm away from the rotating member to release the coin carrier
and allow the coin mechanism to be rotated.
[0020] The present invention further provides a method of generating an electric current
using a generator comprising a stator and a rotor positioned to rotate within or about
the stator, one of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one magnetic element
and the other of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one coil, comprising
the steps of: a. biasing a drive wheel to a rest position, b. rotating the drive wheel
to a release position, c. before, during or after steps a. and b., coupling the drive
wheel to the rotor, and d. releasing the drive wheel, whereby after release the drive
wheel drives the rotor as the drive wheel returns to the rest position.
[0021] The present invention further provides a metal detection and release system for a
coin mechanism having a rotatable handle and a coin carrier rotatable with the handle
when a particular type of coin or token is deposited into the coin carrier, comprising
a rotating member that rotates with the coin carrier, a rocker arm biased to a locking
position latched to the rotating member to prevent rotation of the coin carrier, one
of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet on the rocker arm, the other of the electromagnet
or a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the rocker arm in a position such that
when the electromagnet is activated the rocker arm can be attracted to the permanent
magnet, and a contact adjacent to the coin carrier, whereby when a metal coin or token
is deposited into the coin carrier the contact touches the coin and closes a circuit
which activates the electromagnet to attract the rocker arm to the permanent magnet
and draw the rocker arm away from the rotating member to release the coin carrier
and allow the coin mechanism to be rotated.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022] In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the
invention,
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a coin mechanism embodying the invention,
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the coin mechanism of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the coin mechanism of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the coin mechanism of Figure 1 with the coin
carrier and internal gears removed to show a coin ejection finger,
Figure 5 is a rear elevation of Figure 4 showing the coin ejection finger,
Figure 6A is a partial rear elevation of Figure 4 showing the coin ejection finger
in a rest position,
Figure 6B is a partial rear elevation of Figure 4 showing the coin ejection finger
in an ejecting position,
Figure 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the coin mechanism of Figure
1, exploded from the coin carrier rearwardly,
Figure 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the generator in the coin mechanism
of Figure 1,
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the coin mechanism of Figure 1,
Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the clutch wheel,
Figure 11 is a front elevation of the drive wheel,
Figure 12 is a partial rear elevation showing the counter switch,
Figure 13A is an enlarged partial rear elevation showing the counter switch being
switched to the 'on' position,
Figure 13B is an enlarged partial rear elevation showing the counter switch being
switched to the 'off' position,
Figure 14A is an enlarged partial rear elevation showing the counter switch closing
the counter contacts in the 'on' position shown in Figure 13A,
Figure 14B is an enlarged partial rear elevation showing the counter switch disengaged
from the counter contacts in the 'off' position shown in Figure 13B,
Figure 15 is a partial rear elevation showing the scraper and coin contact,
Figure 15A is an elevation of a coin showing the path of travel of the scraper and
coin contact across the coin,
Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of the scraper and coin contact,
Figures 17A and 17B are top plan views of the scraper and coin contact, respectively,
in the raised position,
Figures 18A and 18B are top plan views of the scraper and coin contact, respectively,
in the contacting position,
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the magnetic release system,
Figure 20A is a side elevation of the magnetic locking latch engaged to the locking
wheel and restraining rotation of the coin mechanism, and
Figure 20B is a side elevation of the magnetic locking latch disengaged from the locking
wheel by the electromagnet and permitting rotation of the coin mechanism.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a coin mechanism 10 embodying the invention. The coin mechanism
10 conventionally comprises a cover plate 12 having a coin slot 12a and an opening
(not shown) through which a shaft 14 of the handle 16 is rotatably disposed. As best
seen in Figure 7, the shaft 14 has a flat 14a for rotationally fixing the shaft 14
to a coin carrier 20 through opening 20a, such that the coin carrier 20 rotates as
the handle 16 is turned. A diameter measuring dog 18 is pivotally mounted to the cover
plate 12 near a starting position of the coin mechanism rotational cycle, to measure
the diameter of a coin 2 inserted into the coin recess 22 through the coin slot 12a,
and arrest rotation of the coin mechanism 10 if the coin 2 is not the correct diameter,
as described and illustrated for example in U.S. Patent No. 5,924,542 issued July
20, 1999 to Schwarzli, which is incorporated herein by reference. A washer dog 19
may be provided to arrest rotation of the coin mechanism 10 if a washer is inserted
instead of a coin 2, as is well known.
[0024] A back plate 30 is affixed to the cover plate 12 to retain the coin carrier 20. A
ratchet gear 32 rotatably fixed to the shaft 14 is mounted over the back plate 30,
cooperating with pawl 31 to prevent reverse rotation of the coin mechanism 10 once
the handle 16 has been turned past the diameter measuring point (as described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,609,235 issued March 11, 1997 to Schwarzli, which is incorporated herein
by reference), and the dispensing gear 34 is rotatably fixed to the end of the shaft
14 to mesh with and rotate the dispensing wheel of the bulk vender (not shown) in
conventional fashion, as is well known to those skilled in the art.
[0025] In the preferred embodiment an ejector bar 40 is pivotably mounted to the cover plate
12, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, actuated by an ejector lever 42 exposed to the user
(best seen in Figure 1) and rotationally fixed to the ejector bar 40 through the cover
plate 12. The ejector bar 40 has a tab 44 (best seen in Figure 7A) extending into
a recess 46 milled or otherwise formed in the rear face of the coin carrier 20. Manually
moving the lever 42 thus pivots the ejector bar 40 between a rest position shown in
Figure 6A, out of the way of the coin recess 22, and an ejection position shown in
Figure 6B, impinging into the coin recess 22. If a user tries to insert an undersized
coin or slug 2 which is too small to retrieve out of the coin slot 12a, the ejector
lever 42 can be depressed to pivot the ejector bar 40 to the ejection position, moving
the tab 44 through the recess 24 into the coin slot 22 and lifting the coin or slug
2 high enough to be manually removed from the coin carrier 20.
[0026] An electrical generator 50 according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 8
to 11. The electrical generator 50 of the invention will be described in the environment
of a coin mechanism 10 for a bulk vender, however it will be appreciated that the
invention can be implemented in a coin mechanism for operating any type of device
or machine, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular coin
mechanism 10 shown or the application of the preferred embodiment described herein
by way of example.
[0027] The generator 50 comprises a rotor 52 comprising at least one magnetic disk 54, disposed
within a stator 56 comprising coils 58. The magnetic disk 54 may be a permanent magnet,
or it may be a disk containing or supporting one or more permanent magnets. The stator
56 may be composed of laminated plates, as is conventional, and preferably comprises
two coils 58 connected [in series?]. Thus, as the rotor 52 rotates within the stator
56, the magnetic field generated by the magnet 54 moves past the coils 58 and generates
an electric current.
[0028] The level of current depends upon the rotational speed of the rotor 52 within the
stator 56. In order to render the rotational speed of the rotor 52 independent of
the rate at which a user turns the handle 16, the rotor 52 is driven by a drive wheel
60. The drive wheel 60 is rotatably disposed over the shaft 14 via hub 60a, so that
the drive wheel 60 can rotate independently of the handle 16, and is biased to a rest
position illustrated in Figure 8 by at least one biasing member, for example tension
springs 62. In the embodiment shown two tension springs 62 are respectively anchored
to diametrically opposite sides of the drive wheel 60 and cover plate 12, which biases
the drive wheel 60 to the rest position with a relatively balanced force, and the
periphery of the drive wheel 60 is channeled (like a pulley) to accommodate the springs
62. However, it is possible to use any number of tension springs 62 in the manner
shown, or to mount the drive wheel 60 on a coiled leaf torsion spring (not shown)
anchored to the hub of the drive wheel 60 and the shaft 14, or in any other suitable
manner bias the drive wheel 60 to the rest position.
[0029] The drive wheel 60 is engaged to the coin carrier 20 by a releasable latch, for example
a leaf spring 66 engaged to a stop 68 on the coin carrier 20, as best seen in Figure
8. As the handle 16 (and thus the shaft 14) is rotated by the user, the drive wheel
60 turns and the springs 62 are tensioned until the drive wheel 60 has been rotated
to a release point, at which the spring 66 reaches release finger 70 affixed to the
cover plate 12. When the drive wheel 60 has been rotated to the release point, the
finger 20 pries the spring 66 away from the stop 68 and releases the drive wheel 60
from the coin carrier 20. The potential energy stored in the loaded springs 62 is
then converted to kinetic energy as the drive wheel 60, freed from the coin carrier
20, snaps back to the rest position shown in Figure 8. In the embodiment shown using
tension springs 62, preferably the release point is no greater than halfway through
the rotational cycle of the coin mechanism 10 so that the springs 62 do not overlap
and interfere with one another. A longer return cycle may be achieved by using a torsion
spring (not shown) mounted to the hub 60a instead of tension springs 62.
[0030] In the preferred embodiment the drive wheel 60 is selectively engaged to the rotor
52 only during the interval between the release of the drive wheel 60 and its return
to the rest position. This allows the rotor 52 to spin freely, and thus continue to
generate an electric current, after the drive wheel 60 has returned to the rest position.
In the preferred embodiment this is accomplished using a centrifugal clutch comprising
a clutch wheel 80, which is affixed to (or integral with) the rotor 52 and extends
outside of the stator 56. The centrifugal clutch further comprises clutch pawls 82
which are mounted to the drive wheel 60, cooperating with clutch teeth 84 disposed
about the periphery of a circular recess 80a concentric with the clutch wheel 80.
The clutch teeth 84 are angled like ratchet teeth, so that the pawls 82 can engage
the clutch teeth 84 only in the direction of rotation of the drive wheel 60 as it
snaps back to the rest position, and the pawls 82 are pivotally mounted and balanced
so that they engage the clutch teeth 84 only when the drive wheel 60 is rotating back
to the rest position. The pawls 82 are advantageously formed from lightweight plastic,
so the pawls 82 can pivot under a very slight force, however the components of the
clutch may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials. Also,
any number of pawls 82 may be provided for the clutch, however two pawls 82 provide
a balanced engagement between the pawls 82 and the clutch wheel 80.
[0031] In the operation of the generator 50 of the invention, a user inserts a coin 2 of
the required denomination into the coin recess 22 through the coin slot 12a in the
cover plate 12, and rotates the handle 16. The drive wheel 60 is engaged to the coin
carrier 20 by releasable latch 66 engaged against the leading face of stop 68. As
the drive wheel 60 turns, the springs 62 are stretched and loaded. As the latch 66
is rotated past the release finger 70, the release finger 70 (which is fixed to the
cover plate 12) pries the latch 66 away from the stop 68, releasing the drive wheel
60 from the coin carrier 20. The potential energy in the springs 62 is converted to
kinetic energy as the drive wheel 60 snaps back to the rest position under the force
of the springs 60. The centrifugal effect of the sudden rotation of the drive wheel
60 causes the pawls 82 to pivot outwardly, engaging the clutch teeth 84 of the clutch
wheel 80 and transmitting the kinetic energy of the drive wheel 60 to the clutch wheel
80, and thus to the rotor 52. The rotor 52 spins, moving the magnetic field past the
coils 58 of the stator 56 and generating an electric current which is transmitted
via wires 89 to the electrical system(s), examples of which are described below.
[0032] Once the drive wheel 60 reaches the rest position the pawls 82 are no longer influenced
by centrifugal effect, and are easily pushed to the disengaged position by the gradual
angle of the clutch teeth 84, so the clutch wheel 80 and rotor 52 continue to rotate
under the momentum imparted by the drive wheel 60. Thus, it is advantageous if the
rotor 52/clutch wheel 80 assembly has a relatively large mass, so that it can serve
as a flywheel after the drive wheel 60 reaches the rest position and continue to generate
a current. The current will reduce as the rotor 52/clutch wheel 80 assembly slows,
but sufficient current can nevertheless be recovered during this freewheeling phase
of the generator cycle to charge a small battery 76 or operate a low-power device
such as a silicon chip (not shown).
[0033] The electric current thus produced can be used to power an electrical or electronic
device or load. For example, in a vending machine which uses a solenoid to open a
gate in order to release merchandise to a user, previously such a vending machine
could only be installed near a mains power supply. The electrical generator 50 of
the invention supplies a sufficient momentary current to activate a solenoid and open
the merchandise release gate.
[0034] In the above-described embodiment the rotor 52 rotates within the stator 56 to expose
the stator coils 58 to a moving magnetic field. It will be appreciated that with suitable
modifications the rotor 52 could surround the stator 56 and rotate about the stator
56 rather than within it; and that the rotor 52 could provide one or more coils 58
while the stator 56 provides a magnet, instead of the reverse as described and shown.
In all of these cases the electric current is generated by the relative motion of
the coils 58 through the magnetic field generated by one or more magnets, and the
principles of the invention will still apply.
[0035] The electrical generator 50 of the invention also supplies a sufficient current to
recharge the battery 76, which can be used as an auxiliary power supply to supply
a current when the handle 16 is not being rotated, which for example can be sufficient
to operate a silicon chip 118, such as a so-called "tag" for counting or tracking
vending activity. The battery 76 would enable a clock in the chip 118 to maintain
time between vends, or a digital counter 118 to maintain an accumulated count between
vends.
[0036] In this embodiment, it is important to ensure that the counter or tag 118 counts
only once with each vend of the vending machine, the switch that pulses the counter
or tag must do so only once during each complete cycle of the coin mechanism 10, which
is representative of a single vending event. This incrementally increases the vend
count in the counter or tag 118 by a unit, and optionally records the date and time
of the vending event. To ensure this, in one preferred embodiment shown in Figures
12 to 14, a switching interface 120 comprises a dog 122 having at each end an upstanding
finger 122a, 122b in the path of a coin 1. The finger 122b is conductive or has a
conductive coating applied to it. A contact housing 124 (shown in Figure 14) is positioned
with contacts 126 facing the finger 122b, so that as the coin 2 passes the finger
122a it pushes the finger 122b against the contacts 126 to thus close a circuit through
wires 128 and generate a count pulse in the tag 110. As the coin passes the finger
122b it pushes the finger 122b away from the contacts 126. The switch dog 122 is biased
to either the open ("off") or closed ("on") position, for example by a spring-loaded
ball 130 which settles into either notch 132a or notch 132b under the force of compression
spring 131, depending upon the position of the dog 122, but does not allow the dog
122 to freely move between the on and off positions. The dog 122 can thus contact
the contacts 126 only once with each coin 2 that passes the fingers 122a and 122b,
to thus ensure a single pulse is delivered to the tag or counter 118. The wiring connections
for creating this circuit (not shown) will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0037] Alternatively, the switching interface 120 may comprise a proximity sensor actuated
by a density differential, reflective surface or other proximity actuator on the coin
conveyor 40; a reed switch responsive to a magnet embedded in the coin conveyor; or
some other activating interface which closes a circuit to generate a pulse on the
event input pin of the tag 118. In each case the interface 120 is located at a position
in the rotational cycle of the coin mechanism 10 at which the coin has already been
accepted, so that the tag 118 does not falsely count partial rotations through the
free-turning portion of the beginning of the coin mechanism cycle as actual vends.
[0038] In the preferred embodiment one of the vender's electrical functions is the discrimination
of coins or token based on electrical conductivity. This would further improve the
security of the vender and its resistance to non-metallic (e.g. plastic and cardboard)
slugs. As noted above an example of a device for determining whether a coin is magnetic,
and releasing the coin mechanism only when the coin is magnetic, is described and
illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,954,181. However, the magnetic release mechanism
so described only reacts to a coin that has a magnetic component. There are many coins
that are metallic but do not have a magnetic component. The invention provides a reliable
means available of discriminating between nonmagnetic metallic coins and plastic or
cardboard slugs.
[0039] In the preferred embodiment the present invention includes a magnetic locking mechanism,
shown in Figures 19 and 20, comprising a rotating member 88 which is fixed to and
thus rotates with the shaft 14 (which may if desired be integral with the ratchet
gear 32), and a rocker arm 90 pivotally secured to the back plate 30 so as to be able
to rock between locked and unlocked positions, but not rotate with the shaft 14. The
rocker arm 90 is biased to the locked position shown in Figure 20A, with the latch
94 lodged in the recess 89 of the rotating member 88 and thus preventing the rotating
member 88 from rotating. When the coin 2 deposited into the coin recess 22 is magnetic,
the magnet 92 in the rocker arm 90 draws the rocker arm 90 toward the coin 2 and thus
retracts the latch 94 from the slot 89 in the rotating member, allowing the rotating
member to rotate. The magnetic locking mechanism thus far described is substantially
as described and illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,954,181 issued September 21, 1999
to Schwarzli, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0040] However, in the preferred embodiment the electrical generator 50 of the invention
provides a metal detector which allows the magnetic locking system so described to
unlatch the coin mechanism 10 when any conductive (i.e. metal) coin 2 is deposited
into the coin recess 22, regardless whether it is magnetic, but not when a non-conductive
coin is deposited. In this embodiment an electromagnet, for example a coil 100, is
glued or otherwise suitably affixed to the back plate 30 near the coin recess 22,
as best seen in Figures 3 and 7. A contact arm 102, illustrated in Figures 15 to 18,
provides a coin contact, for example a steel ball bearing 104, disposed in the path
of travel of the coin 2, and electrically isolated from the cover plate 12, for example
by a neoprene bushing 106. The contact arm 102 is biased toward the coin 2. The coin
carrier 20 provides a raised edge 21 (shown for example in Figure 5) which holds the
contact arm 102 away from the coin 2 until the coin recess 22 reaches the contact
arm 102, at which point the arm 102 pushes the contact 104 against the coin 2. The
negative terminal of the power supply (shown in Figures 20A and 20B as battery 76,
which operates in conjunction with generator 50 as described above) is grounded to
the cover plate 12, and the positive terminal is connected through the contact 104
to the electromagnet 100. If the coin 2 is conductive, when the contact 104 touches
the coin 2 the circuit is closed and the electromagnet 100 is activated. The electromagnet
100 is oriented relative to the magnet 92 such that opposite poles face each other,
so the magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet 92 and the activated electromagnet
100 draws the top of the rocker bar 90 away from the rotating member 88, dislodging
the latch 94 from the slot 89 and allowing the handle 16 (and thus the coin carrier
20) to be rotated, as shown in Figure 20B.
[0041] It will be appreciated that the metal detector invention could be arranged to work
the opposite way, particularly for non-magnetic coins 2. The rocker arm 90 could be
biased to the opposite position (top adjacent to the coin recess 22) and latched to
the rotating member 88 at the bottom of the rocker arm 90, and the electromagnet 100
could be arranged with the permanent magnet 92 such that like poles face each other.
In this variation, when the coin 2 is conductive the electromagnet is activated, forcing
the top of the rocker arm 90 away from the coin recess 22 and unlatching the bottom
of the rocker arm 90 from the rotating member 88. The effect would be the same as
long as the coin 2 is not magnetic. If the coin 2 is magnetic the force of the electromagnet
100 would have to be strong enough to overcome the attraction between the magnet 92
and the coin 2, which may be impractical.
[0042] In order to avoid attempts to defeat the metal detector of the invention by using
a non-metal slug of the correct size and wrapping it in a metal foil to make it seem
conductive, in the preferred embodiment a scraper arm 110 is disposed in the path
of travel 104a of the contact 104 across the coin 2 (shown in Figure 15A), but upstream
of the contact arm 102. The scraper arm 110, for example formed of spring steel or
another suitable material, is also biased toward the coin 2 and has a sharp tip 112
which pierces any covering, such as a metal foil, and ploughs a furrow through it
along the path of travel of the contact 104, as shown in Figure 18A, so that the contact
104 touches the actual body of the coin or slug, and not a conductive coating that
may have been applied to the coin or slug to "fool" the metal detector security feature.
[0043] A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described by way of nonlimiting
example only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications
and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
1. A generator for a coin mechanism, comprising
a stator,
a rotor positioned to rotate within or about the stator,
one of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one magnetic element and the
other of the rotor and the stator comprising at least one coil, and
a drive wheel being biased to a rest position by a biasing element and rotatable
to a release position, the drive wheel being selectively rotationally coupled to the
rotor such that when the drive wheel is rotated to the release position and released,
the drive wheel drives the rotor as the drive wheel returns to the rest position,
whereby as the rotor rotates the generator generates an electric current.
2. The generator of claim 1 in which the drive wheel releases from the rotor as the drive
wheel reaches the rest position.
3. The generator of claim 2 in which the drive wheel is rotationally coupled to the rotor
by at least one pawl engaging at least one tooth, wherein the pawl is biased to a
position clear of the tooth and pivots to engage the tooth as the drive wheel starts
to rotate to the rest position.
4. The generator of claim 1 in which the wheel is biased to the rest position by a pair
of tension springs anchored to the wheel in substantially diametric relation.
5. The generator of claim 1 in which the generator is disposed in a coin mechanism and
the wheel is rotated by a depressable member engaging a rotating portion of a coin
mechanism.
6. The generator of claim 1 in which the coil is on the stator.
7. A coin mechanism comprising the generator of any of the preceding claims.
8. A method of generating an electric current using a generator comprising a stator and
a rotor positioned to rotate within or about the stator, one of the rotor and the
stator comprising at least one magnetic element and the other of the rotor and the
stator comprising at least one coil, comprising the steps of:
a. biasing a drive wheel to a rest position,
b. rotating the drive wheel to a release position,
c. before, during or after steps a. and b., coupling the drive wheel to the rotor,
and
d. releasing the drive wheel,
whereby after release the drive wheel drives the rotor as the drive wheel returns
to the rest position.
9. A metal detection and release system for a coin mechanism having a rotatable handle
and a coin carrier rotatable with the handle when a particular type of coin or token
is deposited into the coin carrier, comprising
a rotating member that rotates with the coin carrier,
a rocker arm biased to a locking position latched to the rotating member to prevent
rotation of the coin carrier,
one of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet on the rocker arm, the other of the
electromagnet or a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the rocker arm in a position
such that when the electromagnet is activated the rocker arm can be attracted to the
permanent magnet, and
a contact adjacent to the coin carrier,
whereby when a metal coin or token is deposited into the coin carrier the contact
touches the coin and closes a circuit which activates the electromagnet to attract
the rocker arm to the permanent magnet and draw the rocker arm away from the rotating
member to release the coin carrier and allow the coin mechanism to be rotated.